According to a wide array of surveys the vast majority of Catalans would vote affirmatively in a referendum for secession from Spain. Only some 20% of those polled say they would vote to remain a part of Spain. The Spanish government, in the hands of a party borne of the remains of Franco’s dictatorial regime, founded by the dictator’s Minister of Propaganda (quick aside: can you imagine Germany being ruled by a party founded by Goebbels?), knows that it is about to lose its most prosperous region. In a democratic country, such as the United Kingdom, both parties would get together and lay the foundation for a democratic referendum.
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Spain, as we all know, is different.
Not only has the Spanish government banned any type of referendum, lest Spain be considered an actual democracy, it is also attempting to boycott the upcoming elections that will determine the makeup of the Catalan Parliament that is destined to take the formal steps toward secession. As polls point towards a 3-to-1-seat majority for the parties that favor independence, Spanish nationalist parties have resorted back to their predemocratic style. Their thinking appears to be “if people will be voting against us, let’s stop them from voting altogether”.
While outright fraud would be difficult to hide from the European Union, especially while its government is begging for a soft bailout, Spain has found ways to keep a vast amount of voters from expressing their democratic will. The 160,000 Catalans living abroad have found it practically impossible to vote in the Spanish embassies and consulates, as electoral law states. Some cases have been egregious, with one member of the diplomatic corps having been taped saying “a Catalan is on the phone, asking about the elections. I should tell him he can’t vote, right?”.
To add insult to injury, the Spanish government now claims Hurricane Sandy is the reason behind “technical” complications that have kept Catalans abroad from voting. Either the worldwide media have woefully underreported the effects of Sandy in London, Beijing or Buenos Aires, or the Spanish government is shamelessly lying. It’s as simple as that.
Many Catalans feel that our nation is held prisoner by Spain, who took possession of Catalonia by sword and fire as England reneged on its commitment to defend it. By not allowing Catalans abroad to vote, the Spanish government is now equating our democratic rights to those of, indeed, convicted prisoners. Spanish democracy is nothing but an oxymoron.
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| Arnau Gomis @ArnauGomisM http://www.naciodigital.cat |
No poguer, o no permetre? Jo m'inclino per la segona opció. Joc brut fins al final.. Bon article.